Wednesday, April 21, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC (April 20, 2010) - On Wednesday April 21, 2010, students and faculty at six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—Howard University, Hampton University, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Lemoyne-Owen College—will participate in Denim Day events at HBCUs. The HBCU movement for Denim Day is organized by Ending Violence Against Women(EVAW): The HBCU Project, an initiative funded through the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.

Denim Day is a project of Peace Over Violence, Inc.—a non-profit, feminist, multicultural, volunteer organization dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence. Denim Day was launched in 1999, in protest of an Italian High Court ruling that overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing jeans. The women of the Italian Legislature were enraged by the verdict and protested the decision by wearing jeans to work. As news of the decision spread, so did the protest.

“I want people to clearly understand that violence against women is real. One out of four women that we know will be or has been a victim of some form of violence in her lifetime and a good education or six-figure salary exempts no one,” said Amelia Cobb, Founder and Director of Ending Violence Against Women. “I am greatly appreciative of the Office on Women’s Health, as well as the celebrity supporters that have joined us in helping to bring our vital message to scale.”

There will be a No Violence Against Women (NO VAW) celebrity messaging campaign, prior to Denim Day at HBCUs, to raise awareness and educate the public about on-campus rape and sexual assault. On Monday, April 19th, students at the six participating HBCUs received “NO VAW” pledge e-card messages from Howard University alumni, Wendy Raquel Robinson and Malaak Compton-Rock; and radio personality, Olivia Fox. Two thousand students are expected to join the movement and wear jeans as a visible sign of support to the HCBU “NO VAW” pledge.